Electrical connector with a function of detecting interfitting engagement of connector housings

Abstract

An electrical connector with a function of detecting interfitting engagement of connector housings includes first and second connector housings fitted one into the other into interfitting engagement, a plurality of pairs of terminals disposed in the respective connector housings and electrically connected together upon the interfitting engagement of the first and second connector housings, a short-circuiting terminal usually urged so as to make a short circuit between at least two of the terminals disposed in the second connector housing, an actuator displacing the short-circuiting terminal upon the interfitting engagement of the first and second connector housings so that the short-circuiting terminal is departed from the terminals disposed in the second connector housing, and a pair of interfitting engagement detecting terminals disposed in the first connector housing so that a short circuit is made between them by the short-circuiting terminal when it has been displaced.

We claim: 
     
       1. An electrical connector comprising: a) first and second connector housings fitted one into the other into interfitting engagement;   b) a plurality of pairs of terminals disposed in the respective connector housings and electrically connected together upon the interfitting engagement of the first and second connector housings;   c) a short-circuiting terminal usually urged so as to make a short circuit between at least two of the terminals disposed in the second connector housing;   d) an actuator displacing the short-circuiting terminal upon the interfitting engagement of the first and second connector housings so that the short-circuiting terminal is departed from said at least two terminals disposed in the second connector housing; and   e) a pair of interfitting engagement detecting terminals provided in the first connector housing so that short circuit is made therebetween by the short-circuiting terminal when the same has been displaced.   
     
     
       2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the actuator integrally projects from cover mounted on the first connector housing so as to be rotatively moved between a first state in which the cover lies along the outer surface of the first connector housing and a second state in which the cover rises from the first state. 
     
     
       3. An electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the cover has right-hand and left-hand side walls and is formed into the shape of a hood covering a part of the first connector housing and the side walls of the cover are rotatably mounted on respective shafts further formed on the first connector housing. 
     
     
       4. An electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the second connector housing includes a cam follower with which the actuator is brought into contact in the process of interfitting engagement of the connector housings and the actuator is abutted against the cam follower when the cover is rotatively moved to assume the first state in the condition that the connector housings are in an incomplete interfitting engagement, thereby thrusting the second connector housing in the direction of the complete interfitting engagement. 
     
     
       5. An electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the first connector housing has two engaging convexities and the cover has in the right-hand and left-hand side walls thereof apertures the engaging convexities of the first connector housing engage respectively when the connector housings are in a normal position for the interfitting engagement. 
     
     
       6. An electrical connector comprising: a) a female connector housing;   b) a plurality of female terminals accommodated in the female connector housing;   c) a male connector housing interfitting with the female connector housing and having right-hand and left-hand side walls, the male connector housing having support shafts projecting from the side walls respectively;   d) a plurality of male terminals accommodated in the male connector housing, the male terminals being electrically connected to the female terminals respectively upon the interfitting engagement of the female and male connector housings;   e) a short-circuiting terminal disposed in the female connector housing and usually urged so as to come into contact with at least one pair of the female terminals, thereby making a short circuit between the female terminals;   f) a cover formed into the shape of a hood covering part of each of the side walls of the male connector housing, the cover being rotatably mounted on the support shafts of the male connector housing so as to be movable between a first state in which the cover lies along a plane between the right-hand and left-hand side walls of the male connector and a second state in which the cover rises up from the first state, the cover having right-hand and left-hand side walls having engagement holes respectively;   g) an actuator formed integrally with the cover and displacing the short-circuiting terminal upon the interfitting engagement of the male and female connector housings, so that the short-circuiting terminal is departed from the female terminals;   h) a cam follower provided in the female connector housing so that the actuator comes into contact therewith in the process of interfitting engagement of the male and female connector housings, the cam follower being abutted by the actuator when the cover is rotatively moved to assume the first state while the connector housings are in the state of incomplete interfitting engagement, whereby the female connector housing is thrust in such a direction that the same completely interfits with the male connector;   i) a pair of interfitting engagement detecting terminals provided in the female connector housing so that a short circuit is made therebetween by the short-circuiting terminal when the same is displaced by the actuator to be away from the female terminals: and   j) a pair of engaging convexities provided on the female connector housing so as to engage the engagement holes of the cover respectively when the connector housings have reached the state of normal interfitting engagement.